An adaptation of the classic, fantastical story by renowned horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Revolving around an expedition into Antarctica that soon turns rather creepy, the story is considered the distillation of his Cthulhu Mythos that ran through a number of his stories, and has influenced numerous filmmakers, authors and artists.

The Problems:

The thing Mountains has always had going for it is that Guillermo Del Toro is obsessed with the book. However, not even a director as bankable or with a such a passionate following has been able to get it made.

The director wrote a screenplay for the film several years ago and has spent the last few years trying to secure financing for it but as yet with no success. For a while the project was set up at Warner Bros., but they eventually balked at coughing up the cash in 2006.

Del Toro himself sums up why it's such a gamble for studios: "It's R-rated and it's expensive and it doesn't have a happy ending." With the director busy in Middle-earth for the next few years, we don't expect to enter the Mountain of Madness for a while, although if you watch the likes of Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army closely, you'll spot several of Lovecraft's 'Elder Things' scurrying around.